I wasn't planning on seeing a movie that day. My job was to shuttle my 13-year-old to and from a birthday party. The birthday girl was treating her friends and a few parents to see "The Hobbit." My 10-year-old, who is a tad young for an intense movie like "The Hobbit," wanted to come along for the ride.

Director Peter Jackson has cinematic ownership of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary fantasy novels. His epic treatment of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy led to box office success that allows him to do whatever he wants in the prequel, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected...